IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 63 



Cassia fistula, Linne. 



South Asia. The long pods of this ornamental tree contain an 

 aperient pulp of pleasant taste, of medicinal value ; also used in 

 the manufacture of cake tobacco. Traced by Sir Jos. Hooker 

 to the dry slopes of the Central Himalayas. 



Cassia Marylandica, Linne. 



An indigenous Senna plant of the United States of North 

 America. Perennial. 



Cassia obovata, Colladon. 



South- West Asia ; widely dispersed through Africa as a native 

 or disseminated plant. Perennial. Part of the Alexandrian 

 and also Aleppo senna is derived from this species, less 

 esteemed and less collected, however, than the other species. 

 It furnishes also Tripolis, Italian,, Senegal, and Tanacca 

 senna. Several of the Australian desert cassias of the group 

 of C. artemisioides may also possess purgative properties. 

 The odour of their foliage is almost that of senna. 



Castanea sativa, Miller.* (C. vesca, Gaertner.) 



The Sweet Chestnut Tree. South Europe and temperate Asia, 

 as far as Japan, and a variety with smaller fruits extending 

 to North America. It attains an enormous age ; at Mount 

 Etna an individual tree occurs with a stem 204 feet in circum- 

 ference. At other places trees are found 1 feet in diameter, 

 solid to the centre. The tree does not readily admit of trans- 

 plantation. The wood is light, coarse-grained, strong, elastic 

 and durable, well adapted for staves, wheel cogs, &c., the 

 young wood for hoops and mast rings. The wood is com- 

 paratively rich in tannic acid (about 18 per cent.), and thus 

 used for preparing a liquid extract. The importance of the tree 

 rests on its adaptability for shade plantations, its nutritious 

 nuts and timber value. The American wood is slightly lighter 

 in colour than that of the Red Oak and valuable for its durabi- 

 lity, thus available for shingles and rails; chestnut rails in 

 North America have lasted for half a century. The wood is 

 beautifully laminated and thus sought for furniture (Simmons). 

 Dr. Vasey mentions that the wood is largely employed for 

 furniture, for the inside finish of railroad cars and steamboats. 

 The nuts, smaller but sweeter than the European, are im- 

 portant for fattening hogs (Robb). 



Castanopsis argentea, A. Candolle. 



A lofty tree in the mountains of India, produces also edible 



